Cowboys Land 'Troy Polamalu-Level' Safety, Downhill LB in Recent NFL Mock Draft

Dallas adds two standout Ohio State defenders in a recent 2026 NFL mock draft.

Feb. 4, 2026 at 9:07am

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In a recent 2026 NFL mock draft, the Dallas Cowboys land two standout defenders from Ohio State - safety Caleb Downs and linebacker Sonny Styles. Downs is compared to NFL legend Troy Polamalu for his hard-hitting, sideline-to-sideline playmaking ability, while Styles is praised for his versatility and physicality as a converted safety turned linebacker.

Why it matters

The Cowboys are looking to fix their porous defense this offseason, and these two picks would be excellent additions to help solidify their unit. Downs and Styles would bring an infusion of talent, athleticism, and versatility to the Dallas defense.

The details

In the mock draft, the Cowboys select Caleb Downs with the 12th overall pick. Downs is described as a "Troy Polamalu-level talent" who excels as a run-game enforcer with sideline-to-sideline range and short-area burst to excel in pass coverage. With the 20th pick, the Cowboys then land Sonny Styles, a converted safety who plays with downhill aggression and the versatility to make plays in multiple roles across the defense.

  • The 2026 NFL Draft is scheduled for April.

The players

Caleb Downs

An Ohio State safety who is compared to NFL legend Troy Polamalu for his hard-hitting, sideline-to-sideline playmaking ability.

Sonny Styles

An Ohio State linebacker who is a converted safety, known for his physicality, versatility, and ability to make plays all over the field.

Christian Parker

The new defensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys, hired this offseason to help fix the team's porous defense.

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What they’re saying

“Downs could be a Troy Polamalu-level talent in the NFL. He's only 5-foot-11, and he may not end up running a 4.35-second 40-yard dash, but I don't care. Not even a little bit.”

— Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports NFL Draft Analyst (CBS Sports)

“Styles is a fast, physical linebacker who flies downhill and makes plays all over the field. He's tough enough to take on offensive linemen in the box, athletic enough to cover ground in space and smart enough to handle multiple roles across a defense.”

— Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports NFL Draft Analyst (CBS Sports)

What’s next

The 2026 NFL Draft is scheduled for April, where the Cowboys will look to add these two Ohio State standouts to help improve their defense.

The takeaway

The Cowboys are making a concerted effort to fix their defense this offseason, and landing a "Troy Polamalu-level" safety and a versatile, physical linebacker in the draft would be a significant step in the right direction. These two picks would bring an infusion of talent, athleticism, and playmaking ability to the Dallas defense.